NYSE Dow Jones finished today at:

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 92.93 points or ▲ 0.53% on Thursday, June 16, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,733.10 ▲ 92.93 ▲ 0.53%
Nasdaq____ 4,844.92 ▲ 9.98 ▲ 0.21%
S&P_500___ 2,077.99 ▲ 6.49 ▲ 0.31%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.38 ▼ -0.04 ▼ -1.65%

NYSE Volume 3,615,201,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,658,406,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 5,950.48 ▼ -16.32 ▼ -0.27%
DAX_____ 9,550.47 ▼ -56.24 ▼ -0.59%
CAC_40__ 4,153.01 ▼ -18.57 ▼ -0.45%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,231.70 ▲ 1.30 ▲ 0.02%
Shanghai_Comp 2,872.82 ▼ -14.39 ▼ -0.50%
Taiwan_Weight 8,494.14 ▼ -112.23 ▼ -1.30%
Nikkei_225___ 15,434.14 ▼ -485.44 ▼ -3.05%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,038.42 ▼ -429.10 ▼ -2.10%
Strait_Times.__ 2,751.56 ▼ -22.69 ▼ -0.82%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,888.57 ▲ 19.01 ▲ 0.28%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stock...in-british-vote-looms-143249301--finance.html

Stocks stage late-day comeback to end 5 days of losses
Associated Press By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) ”” Stocks in the U.S. staged a late afternoon rally to close moderately higher on Thursday, ending a five-day losing streak.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 92.93 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,733.10. It had been down more than 100 points earlier in the day. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 6.49 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,077.99 and the Nasdaq composite rose 9.98 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,844.91.

Investors continued to focus on next week’s vote on whether Britain would remain a member of the European Union. Overseas, Japanese stocks plunged 3 percent after the Bank of Japan decided not to increase its economic stimulus efforts.

Traders are bracing for a tight race in the British vote on June 23 on whether to leave the EU. The Bank of England, which kept its rates on hold as well on Thursday, said a vote to leave would likely result in the pound dropping sharply. It would also hurt spending and investment.

“This is going to be a big event. Up until a few weeks ago, the markets were pricing in a probability of the U.K. leaving the EU at around 20 percent. Now the chance is roughly 42 percent,” said Richard Turnill, BlackRock’s global chief investment strategist. “We are going to see significant volatility ahead of the U.K. referendum.”

As a result, investors have been shifting money into assets considered less risky in times of volatility. High-dividend utility stocks rose nearly 1 percent. Gold also rose nearly 1 percent and U.S. government bond yields remain at lows not seen in four years.

“Everyone is focused on the vote. It’s all about de-risk right now, taking chips off the table,” said Rob Bernstone, a managing director and head of trading at Credit Suisse.

Entertainment conglomerate Viacom jumped sharply in the last hour of trading, closing up $2.85, or 6.8 percent, to $45.05, after Sumner Redstone’s National Amusements said it had replaced five of Viacom’s 11 directors, including CEO Philippe Dauman. The move came as the mental competency of Redstone, Viacom’s controlling shareholder, is being challenged in court.

Meanwhile, drugmaker giant Merck rose $1.41, or 2.5 percent, to $57.50 after the company said it had positive results in a medical study for its cancer drug Keytruda, which could result in higher sales of the drug.

Japan’s central bank once again voted not to further ease monetary policy to help the country’s faltering recovery. The Bank of Japan is pumping about 80 trillion yen ($769 billion) into the country’s economy each year with purchases of Japanese government bonds and other assets.

The yen jumped nearly 2 percent against the U.S. dollar, reaching its highest level in two years. Japanese officials have said they may intervene in currency markets if the yen appreciates too much. Japan’s economy is heavily reliant on exports, which are hurt when the yen rises sharply in value against other currencies.

As a result of the Bank of Japan’s actions, the U.S. dollar fell sharply against the yen, trading at 104.31 yen compared with 105.98 the previous day. The euro fell to $1.1236 from $1.1268.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude oil sank $1.80 to $46.21 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed $1.78 to $47.19 a barrel in London.

Energy stocks fell along with the price of oil. Transocean, Marathon Oil, and Murphy Oil, all drilling or oil exploration companies, fell 3 to 4 percent each.

In other energy trading, heating oil fell 5 cents to $1.42 a gallon, wholesale gasoline fell 4 cents to $1.47 a gallon and natural gas fell 2 cents to $2.58 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold rose $10.10 to $1,298.40 an ounce, silver rose 10 cents to $17.61 an ounce and copper fell 4 cents to $2.05 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -57.94 points or ▼ -0.33% on Friday, June 17, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,675.16 ▼ -57.94 ▼ -0.33%
Nasdaq____ 4,800.34 ▼ -44.58 ▼ -0.92%
S&P_500___ 2,071.22 ▼ -6.77 ▼ -0.33%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.43 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 2.06%

NYSE Volume 4,824,623,500
Nasdaq Volume 2,469,054,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,021.09 ▲ 70.61 ▲ 1.19%
DAX_____ 9,631.36 ▲ 80.89 ▲ 0.85%
CAC_40__ 4,193.83 ▲ 40.82 ▲ 0.98%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,248.30 ▲ 16.60 ▲ 0.32%
Shanghai_Comp 2,885.10 ▲ 12.29 ▲ 0.43%
Taiwan_Weight 8,568.08 ▲ 73.94 ▲ 0.87%
Nikkei_225___ 15,599.66 ▲ 165.52 ▲ 1.07%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,169.98 ▲ 131.56 ▲ 0.66%
Strait_Times.__ 2,763.42 ▲ 11.86 ▲ 0.43%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,847.07 ▼ -41.50 ▼ -0.60%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-fall-early-trade-142850718.html#

Stocks end week lower as British vote remains focus
Associated Press By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed out a difficult week on a modestly lower note Friday, as investors continued to monitor Britain's frenzied debate on whether to leave the European Union. The debate took on a new level of concern after the killing of a member of parliament.

Technology stocks were among the biggest decliners. Apple fell as a patent dispute in China threatened to jeopardize futures sales of iPhones in the world's second-largest economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 57.94 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,675.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 6.77 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,071.22 and the Nasdaq composite fell 44.58 points, or 0.9 percent, to 4,800.34.

Anxiety over the British referendum coming up next Thursday continued to dominate trading. Stocks have fallen six out of the past seven trading days. This week the Dow and S&P 500 each lost 1 percent while the Nasdaq gave up almost 2 percent.

The campaigning in Britain became heated this week, and took an alarming turn when a well-regarded politician in favor of staying in the EU was killed. Polls have been tight or have shown, on occasion, a slight likelihood that Britain could leave the EU. Many have predicted that could harm the British economy.

Investors interpreted the assassination as something that could sway more voters to stay in the EU. U.K. and European stocks and the British pound rose against the euro and dollar. The pound rose to $1.4375 compared with $1.4205 the day before.

"This tragic event may have dampened the 'leave' campaign's momentum somewhat," said Daniel Vernazza, analyst at UniCredit bank. He noted the movement in the pound was the most significant indicator that investors believe this would be positive for the 'remain' campaign.

In other European trading, Germany's DAX index rose 0.8 percent, France's CAC-40 rose 1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 1.2 percent.

Technology giant Apple fell $2.22, or 2.3 percent, to $95.33 after Chinese officials ruled that Apple infringed on a patent of a major competitor, which could cause iPhone sales to be suspended in the country.

Elizabeth Arden rose $4.57, or 49 percent, to $13.88 after hair and makeup company Revlon said it would buy the company for $14 a share, or $419.3 million.

Benchmark U.S. crude added $1.77 to close at $47.98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained $1.98 to close at $49.17 a barrel in London.

In other energy commodities, heating oil rose 6 cents to $1.48 a gallon, wholesale gasoline rose 4 cents to $1.51 a gallon and natural gas rose 4 cents to $2.62 per 1,000 cubic feet.

U.S. government bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.61 percent from 1.58 percent a day earlier. In other currency trading, the dollar fell to 104.23 yen from 104.31 yen while the euro gained slightly to $1.1275 from $1.1236.

The price of gold slipped $3.60 to $1,294.80 an ounce, silver lost 20 cents to $17.41 an ounce and copper was little changed at $2.05 a pound.

3043

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 129.71 points or ▲ 0.73% on Monday, June 20, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,804.87 ▲ 129.71 ▲ 0.73%
Nasdaq____ 4,837.21 ▲ 36.88 ▲ 0.77%
S&P_500___ 2,083.25 ▲ 12.03 ▲ 0.58%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.47 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 1.69%

NYSE Volume 3,435,995,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,650,518,120

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,204.00 ▲ 182.91 ▲ 3.04%
DAX_____ 9,962.02 ▲ 330.66 ▲ 3.43%
CAC_40__ 4,340.76 ▲ 146.93 ▲ 3.50%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,335.60 ▲ 87.30 ▲ 1.66%
Shanghai_Comp 2,888.81 ▲ 3.70 ▲ 0.13%
Taiwan_Weight 8,625.92 ▲ 57.84 ▲ 0.68%
Nikkei_225___ 15,965.30 ▲ 365.64 ▲ 2.34%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,510.20 ▲ 340.22 ▲ 1.69%
Strait_Times.__ 2,800.87 ▲ 37.45 ▲ 1.36%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,869.54 ▲ 22.47 ▲ 0.33%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-surge-investors-grow-144116497.html

US stocks rise as investors grow hopeful about British vote
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks rose sharply on Monday as investors grew more hopeful that Britain will remain in the European Union, letting go of fears that have pulled stocks down in the last two weeks.

Asian stocks traded higher and indexes in Europe soared as the latest opinion polls and betting markets suggest it's more likely Britain will stay in the EU than leave it. Britons vote on the matter on Thursday.

The British pound rose sharply and investors dumped ultra-safe assets like U.S. government bonds, gold and utility stocks, sending those prices lower. Machinery and consumer companies jumped and energy companies rose with the price of oil.

Jim McDonald, chief investment strategist at Northern Trust, said Britain's status within the EU won't affect U.S. businesses very much, although it would hurt European banks. But he said investors are worried what will happen to the union if Britain does leave. For example, other countries might also think about backing out of the EU, doing greater damage to Europe and the global economy.

"It's not the direct effects that people are worried about, it's the indirect ones," he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 129.71 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,804.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 12.03 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,083.25. The Nasdaq composite gained 36.88 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,837.21. U.S. stocks were on pace for much larger gains earlier in the day. At one time the Dow was up 271 points.

The pound rose to $1.4693 from $1.4375, a large move.

Machinery companies climbed. Aerospace company Boeing added $2.93, or 2.3 percent, to $132.75 and Honeywell advanced $1.14, or 1 percent, to $117.06. General Electric rose 23 cents to $30.83.

Consumer stocks rose as investors bet people will spend more on shopping and travel. Amazon gained $7.62, or 1.1 percent, to $714.01 while travel booking site Priceline added $32.72, or 2.5 percent, to $1,341.96 and Nike rose 65 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $54.36.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose $1.39, or 2.9 percent, to $49.37 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained $1.48, or 3 percent, to $50.65 a barrel in London. After a six-day losing streak, oil prices are up about 7 percent over the past two days.

Among energy stocks, Chevron rose $1.04, or 1 percent, to $102.61. Marathon Oil jumped $1.32, or 10 percent, to $14.48 after it agreed to pay $888 million for PayRock Energy.

Bond prices dropped as investors moved money out of ultra-safe assets. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.67 percent from 1.61 percent late Friday. That's an encouraging sign for banks since bond yields are used to set interest rates on many kinds of loans including mortgages, and banks will be able to make more money from lending as rates increase.

Bank of America rose 14 cents, or 1 percent, to $13.54 and Wells Fargo, the nation's biggest mortgage lender, rose 33 cents to $46.93.

JD.com stock jumped after the second-largest e-commerce site in China said it was buying Wal-Mart's Yihaodian marketplace as part of a broad partnership with the company. JD.com jumped 93 cents, or 4.6 percent, to $21.06.

FedEx rose after the federal government moved to dismiss charges against the shipping company. Prosecutors had planned to charge FedEx with knowingly delivering illegal prescription drugs to dealers and addicts, but late Friday the government dropped the case. The trial was set to begin Monday. FedEx picked up $2.22, or 1.4 percent, to $164.47.

Britain's FTSE 100 leaped 3 percent and France's CAC 40 rose 3.5 percent. Germany's DAX rocketed 3.4 percent higher. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index surged 2.3 percent. South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.4 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.7 percent.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline added 8 cents to $1.58 a gallon. Heating oil edged up 5 cents to $1.53 a gallon. Natural gas rose 12 cents to $2.75 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold slipped $2.70 to $1,292.10 an ounce. Silver rose 10 cents to $17.51 an ounce. Copper added 4 cents to $2.09 a pound.

The dollar fell to 103.96 yen from 104.23 yen and the euro rose to $1.1314 from $1.1275.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 24.86 points or ▲ 0.14% on Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,829.73 ▲ 24.86 ▲ 0.14%
Nasdaq____ 4,843.76 ▲ 6.55 ▲ 0.14%
S&P_500___ 2,088.90 ▲ 5.65 ▲ 0.27%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.50 ▲ 0.02 ▲ 0.97%

NYSE Volume 3,220,137,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,577,844,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,226.55 ▲ 22.55 ▲ 0.36%
DAX_____ 10,015.54 ▲ 53.52 ▲ 0.54%
CAC_40__ 4,367.24 ▲ 26.48 ▲ 0.61%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,353.30 ▲ 17.70 ▲ 0.33%
Shanghai_Comp 2,878.56 ▼ -10.25 ▼ -0.35%
Taiwan_Weight 8,684.85 ▲ 58.93 ▲ 0.68%
Nikkei_225___ 16,169.11 ▲ 203.81 ▲ 1.28%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,668.44 ▲ 158.24 ▲ 0.77%
Strait_Times.__ 2,789.45 ▼ -11.42 ▼ -0.41%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,839.40 ▼ -30.14 ▼ -0.44%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-hold-steady-ahead-british-vote-143322175--finance.html#

US stocks rise as Yellen takes careful tone before Congress

US stock indexes close slightly higher after Fed Chair Janet Yellen sounds a cautious note on raising rates
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks rose Tuesday as investors were relieved to hear Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen say the Fed would remain cautious in raising interest rates.

Stocks hardly budged for most of the day as investors were occupied by Yellen's Congressional appearance and the looming vote on Britain's possible withdrawal from the European Union.

Energy and phone companies made the biggest gains. For the second day in a row, stocks traded higher and bond prices fell as investors felt a bit surer that Britain will stay in the EU.

Yellen told the Senate that the Fed will proceed cautiously in raising interest rates because of the uncertainties facing the U.S. economy. She said the central bank will watch carefully to see if the recent slowdown in job growth is temporary or a sign of a bigger problem. The Fed left interest rates unchanged in June and will meet again in late July. Yellen's testimony will conclude on Wednesday.

"The market seems to have responded well to Dr. Yellen's tone of caution," said Phil Orlando, chief equity strategist for Federated Investors.

The Dow Jones industrial average picked up 24.86 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,829.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5.65 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,088.90. The Nasdaq composite added 6.55 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,843.76.

Energy companies climbed despite a dip in the price of oil, which is trading far above its lows from early this year. The price of oil rose about 7 percent over the last two days. While Orlando expects the price of oil to decline further, he said oil companies will still be able to make money if oil trades between $40 and $60 a barrel. That wasn't the case earlier this year, when it went as low as $26 a barrel.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell 52 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $48.85 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, slipped 3 cents to $50.62 a barrel in London.

Schlumberger gained 93 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $78.52 and Occidental Petroleum picked up $1.06, or 1.4 percent, to $77.16.

AT&T added 29 cents to $41.07 and Verizon gained 34 cents to $54.10 as phone companies made some of the biggest gains.

Opinion polls and betting markets indicate that Britons are more likely to vote to remain in the EU in a referendum Thursday. But polls suggest the vote will be close, and uncertainty about the outcome has weighed on global markets and contributed to a recent five-day losing streak for U.S. stocks.

On Tuesday bond prices fell as investors felt comfortable taking on riskier investments. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note edged up to 1.70 percent from 1.69 percent.

Used car dealership CarMax disclosed disappointing first-quarter results as its costs increased and sales fell short of Wall Street's estimates. Its stock gave up $2.49, or 4.9 percent, to $48.14. Auto retailer AutoNation fell $1.47, or 3 percent, to $47.89 and auto supplier BorgWarner skidded $1.38, or 4 percent, to $33.35.

Transportation and logistics company Werner Enterprises forecast disappointing second-quarter results. It said sluggish freight market conditions are hurting rates, as are the costs associated with an increase in pay for drivers. The stock lost $2.37, or 9.6 percent, to $22.31.

American Science & Engineering, which makes X-ray inspection systems, agreed to be acquired by airport security and full-body scanner manufacturer OSI Systems. OSI will pay $37 per share, or $263.9 million. American Science & Engineering's stock jumped $4.54, or 14 percent, to $36.88.

Generic drug maker Impax Laboratories tumbled after it agreed to pay $586 million for a group of generic drugs owned by Allergan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Those companies had to sell the products because Allergan is buying Teva's generic drugs business. Impax lost $3.66, or 11.4 percent, to $28.31.

Data security software company Imperva climbed $5.02, or 12.4 percent, to $45.46 after Elliott Capital, the firm run by activist investor Paul Singer, disclosed a stake.

The price of gold dropped $19.60, or 1.5 percent, to $1,272.50 an ounce and silver fell 20 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $17.32 an ounce. Copper rose 2 cents to $2.12 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline rose 1 cent to $1.59 a gallon. Heating oil slipped 1 cent to $1.52 a gallon. Natural gas rose 2 cents to $2.77 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Germany's DAX rose 0.5 percent and France's CAC 40 advanced 0.6 percent, also adding to large gains on Monday. Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.4 percent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 1.3 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.7 percent while Seoul's Kospi gained 0.1 percent.

The dollar rose to 104.76 yen from 103.96 yen. The euro fell to $1.1257 from $1.1314. The British pound edged back down to $1.4663 from $1.4693 after a big jump Monday.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -48.9 points or ▼ -0.27% on Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,780.83 ▼ -48.90 ▼ -0.27%
Nasdaq____ 4,833.32 ▼ -10.44 ▼ -0.22%
S&P_500___ 2,085.45 ▼ -3.45 ▼ -0.17%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.50 ▲ 0.00 ▼ -0.08%

NYSE Volume 3,155,632,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,556,141,880

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,261.19 ▲ 34.64 ▲ 0.56%
DAX_____ 10,071.06 ▲ 55.52 ▲ 0.55%
CAC_40__ 4,380.03 ▲ 12.79 ▲ 0.29%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,349.50 ▼ -3.80 ▼ -0.07%
Shanghai_Comp 2,905.55 ▲ 26.99 ▲ 0.94%
Taiwan_Weight 8,716.25 ▲ 31.40 ▲ 0.36%
Nikkei_225___ 16,065.72 ▼ -103.39 ▼ -0.64%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,795.12 ▲ 126.68 ▲ 0.61%
Strait_Times.__ 2,786.13 ▼ -3.32 ▼ -0.12%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,781.74 ▼ -57.66 ▼ -0.84%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rise-ahead-more-144210949.html#

US stocks slip as energy and tech companies struggle
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks gave up some early gains to finish lower Wednesday as energy companies sank with the price of oil and weak quarterly reports weighed down technology companies.

After two days of closing higher, stocks rose in the morning but couldn't hang on to the gains. Energy companies fell after U.S. energy stockpiles shrank by a smaller amount than analysts expected, and announcements from Adobe Systems and HP hurt tech stocks. Drug companies traded higher.

Trading was light as investors watched Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's testimony before Congress and waited for Thursday's referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union.

"There's not a lot of trading out there. People are tentative," said Randy Frederick, managing director of trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab. Britons will vote Thursday, but results won't be known until after U.S. markets are closed. Frederick said stocks could tumble if Britain votes to leave the European Union, but if the "remain" campaign wins, he expected that U.S. stocks wouldn't have a huge reaction.

Polls indicate it will be a tight race, but bookies are giving the "remain" camp a higher probability of winning. International experts, including Yellen, have said that a British exit would cause volatility in global markets and uncertainty for the world economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 48.90 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,780.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.45 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,085.45. The Nasdaq composite edged down 10.44 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,833.32.

Yellen said the Federal Reserve will be cautious in raising interest rates because of the mixed state of the economy, with consumer spending rising but investment spending weak.

The U.S. government said crude inventories fell by about 900,000 barrels last week, substantially less than experts had expected. Oil prices have tumbled in the last few years because growth in supplies has far outstripped demand. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 72 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $49.13 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, lost 74 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $49.88 a barrel in London.

Chevron gave up 95 cents to $102.29 and Marathon Oil lost 34 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $14.75.

Health care stocks climbed after Medicare spending did not exceed levels that would have required action by a cost-cutting board. While the review board doesn't have any members yet, investors have been worrying for months that the government will pressure drug companies to cut their prices.

Alliance Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said the development is good for health care investors, but said spending may hit the target next year, giving the next president more leverage in trying to lower drug prices. Bristol-Myers Squibb rose $1.06, or 1.5 percent, to $72.31 and cancer drug maker Celgene jumped $2.37, or 2.4 percent, to $99.23.

Tesla shareholders reacted harshly after the electric car maker offered to buy solar panel maker SolarCity for up to $2.8 billion in an attempt to create a one-stop shop for clean energy. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the chairman and largest shareholder in both companies, and SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive is his cousin. Tesla slumped $22.95, or 10.5 percent, to $196.66. SolarCity stock added 69 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $21.88, far below the value of the offer.

Software maker Adobe Systems announced a larger-than-expected profit, but analysts were less excited about its projections for the current quarter. Adobe lost $5.71, or 5.7 percent, to $94.01.

Computer and printer maker HP forecast strong results in its fiscal third quarter but won't offer as many discounts and will carry reduced supplies. An analyst for Citi called the change a "radical shift." HP fell 72 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $12.61.

FedEx gave a cautious outlook as the package delivery company spends more money on expanding its network and acquires more aircraft to keep up with the e-commerce boom. Its stock fell $7.44, or 4.5 percent, to $156.51.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline was little changed at $1.59 a gallon. Heating oil fell 1 cent to $1.50 a gallon. Natural gas lost 9 cents to $2.68 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold fell $2.50 to $1,270 an ounce. Gold prices have fallen for four days in a row after rising for the seven days before that. Silver fell 1 cent to $17.31 an ounce. Copper rose 2 cents to $2.14 a pound.

Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent and Germany's DAX was also 0.6 percent higher. France's CAC 40 rose 0.3 percent. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong picked up 0.6 percent and Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.6 percent.

The British pound rose to $1.4691 from $1.4663 a day earlier. The dollar declined to 104.47 yen from 104.76 yen. The euro rose to $1.1307 from $1.1257. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.69 percent from 1.71 percent.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 230.24 points or ▲ 1.29% on Thursday, June 23, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,011.07 ▲ 230.24 ▲ 1.29%
Nasdaq____ 4,910.04 ▲ 76.72 ▲ 1.59%
S&P_500___ 2,113.32 ▲ 27.87 ▲ 1.34%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.56 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 2.44%

NYSE Volume 3,262,176,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,605,741,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,338.10 ▲ 76.91 ▲ 1.23%
DAX_____ 10,257.03 ▲ 185.97 ▲ 1.85%
CAC_40__ 4,465.90 ▲ 85.87 ▲ 1.96%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,358.60 ▲ 9.10 ▲ 0.17%
Shanghai_Comp 2,891.96 ▼ -13.59 ▼ -0.47%
Taiwan_Weight 8,676.68 ▼ -39.57 ▼ -0.45%
Nikkei_225___ 16,238.35 ▲ 172.63 ▲ 1.07%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,868.34 ▲ 73.22 ▲ 0.35%
Strait_Times.__ 2,793.85 ▲ 7.72 ▲ 0.28%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,821.35 ▲ 39.61 ▲ 0.58%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rise-britons-polls-141957411.html

US stocks jump as Britons go to polls on EU membership
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks made their biggest gain in a month Thursday as investors grew more optimistic that Britons will vote to stay in the European Union. Investors bought stocks and sold bonds, sending bond yields and banks higher.

On the last trading day before results from the British referendum, stocks continued to rise as investors grew more confident Britain won't leave the union. Bank stocks did the best, while materials companies also rose. The price of oil topped $50 a barrel. Utility companies, which are generally seen as a safe investment, lagged the market as investors took a few more risks.

U.S. stocks have advanced about 2 percent this week. Before that, the market slumped as investors worried that a "leave" vote would disrupt the economies of Britain and Europe. Throughout this year, the market has bobbed up and down as investors traded on political and central bank news, like the British referendum and comments from the Federal Reserve.

J.J. Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade, said that's because the global economy is sluggish. Corporate profits and revenues have also been uninspiring.

"What it really shows is just a lack of growth," he said. "That makes it very difficult to commit capital and I think that's a pattern you're going to continue to see."

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 230.24 points, or 1.3 percent, to 18,011.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 27.87 points, also 1.3 percent, to 2,113.32. The Nasdaq composite climbed 76.72 points, or 1.6 percent, to 4,910.04.

European stock indexes also advanced. France's CAC 40 rose 2 percent and Germany's DAX gained 1.8 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.2 percent.

Bond prices declined, sending the yield on the 10-year Treasury note up to 1.75 percent from 1.69 percent a day earlier.

Higher bond yields mean higher interest rates, which allow banks to make money on lending. Citigroup rose $1.78, or 4.2 percent, to $44.46 and Bank of America gained 43 cents, or 3.2 percent, to $14.04.

The British pound rose to $1.4808 from $1.4691, its highest level of the year. The pound has gotten stronger as investors grew more confident Britain will stay in the EU. The dollar rose to 105.78 yen from 104.47 yen. The euro rose to $1.1351 from $1.1307.

U.S. crude rose 98 cents, or 2 percent, to $50.11 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, rose $1.03, or 2.1 percent, to $50.91 a barrel in London. Among energy stocks, Chevron picked up $2.15, or 2.1 percent, to $104.44 and ConocoPhillips rose $1.64, or 3.7 percent, to $45.63.

Fertilizer maker Mosaic climbed $1.26, or 4.7 percent, to $28 on reports that the large potash companies of Russia and Belarus might start working together, something that haven't done since 2013. That might bolster prices of the fertilizer, which have slumped in recent years. Other mining and chemicals companies also surged. Paint and coatings maker PPG Industries rose $3.41, or 3.2 percent, to $111.22 and gold and copper miner Freeport-McMoran added 27 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $11.77.

Software company Twilio surged after its initial public offering raised more money than analysts expected. The company makes software that helps companies communicate with their customers and employees through methods like text messages and phone notifications. Its IPO priced at $150 million, and the stock soared $13.79, or 91.9 percent, to $28.79.

Bookseller Barnes & Noble reported stronger-than-expected sales and its stock jumped 82 cents, or 7.9 percent, to $11.26.

Macy's, the largest U.S. department store, said CEO Terry Lundgren will step down early next year after about 13 years in charge. He will remain chairman of the company, and president Jeff Gennette will become CEO. Macy's rose 57 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $33.38.

Software maker Red Hat fell $1.36, or 1.7 percent, to $78.39 after it posted mixed quarterly results and a disappointing outlook. The company also said it will buy software maker 3scale, but didn't disclose terms.

The Labor Department said applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, more evidence employers are keeping workers and may be hiring at a faster pace. About 2.1 million Americans are receiving those benefits, or 4.6 percent fewer than a year ago.

The price of gold fell $6.90 to $1,263.10 an ounce, and it's down almost 3 percent over the last five days. Silver rose 4 cents to $17.35 an ounce. Copper added 3 cents to $2.16 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline rose 2 cents to $1.60 a gallon. Heating oil gained 2 cents to $1.52 a gallon. Natural gas added 2 cents to $2.70 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 1.1 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng inched up 0.4 percent and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3 percent.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -610.32 points or ▼ -3.39% on Friday, June 24, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,400.75 ▼ -610.32 ▼ -3.39%
Nasdaq____ 4,707.98 ▼ -202.06 ▼ -4.12%
S&P_500___ 2,037.41 ▼ -75.91 ▼ -3.59%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.43 ▼ -0.13 ▼ -4.93%

NYSE Volume 7,427,657,500
Nasdaq Volume 3,925,427,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,138.69 ▼ -199.41 ▼ -3.15%
DAX_____ 9,557.16 ▼ -699.87 ▼ -6.82%
CAC_40__ 4,106.73 ▼ -359.17 ▼ -8.04%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,192.80 ▼ -165.80 ▼ -3.09%
Shanghai_Comp 2,854.29 ▼ -37.67 ▼ -1.30%
Taiwan_Weight 8,476.99 ▼ -199.69 ▼ -2.30%
Nikkei_225___ 14,952.02 ▼ -1,286.33 ▼ -7.92%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,259.13 ▼ -609.21 ▼ -2.92%
Strait_Times.__ 2,735.39 ▼ -58.46 ▼ -2.09%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,667.78 ▼ -153.57 ▼ -2.25%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-stocks-tumble-britain-votes-142626461.html#

Global stocks tumble after Britain votes to leave the EU
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks plunged in the U.S. and worldwide Friday after Britain voted to leave the European Union. The result stunned investors, who reacted by rushing to the safety of gold and U.S. government bonds as they wondered what will come next for Britain, Europe and the global economy.

U.S. stocks gave up all their gains from earlier in the year. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 611.21 points, or 3.4 percent, to 17,399.86. The Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 76.02 points, or 3.6 percent, to 2,037.70. Both indexes took their biggest loss since August. The Nasdaq composite suffered its biggest loss since mid-2011, down 202.06 points, or 4.1 percent, to 4,707.98. Indexes in Europe and Asia took even larger losses.

The British vote brought a massive dose of uncertainty to financial markets, something investors loathe. Traders responded by dumping riskier assets that appeared to have the most to lose from disruptions in financial flows and trade: banks, technology companies and makers of basic materials. More shares were traded than on any day since August 2011, when Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit rating of the U.S. government during a crisis over the budget and the country's debt ceiling.

Britons voted to leave the EU over concerns including immigration and regulation. It's far from clear what that will mean for international trade or for Europe, as the EU, which was formed in the decades following World War II, has never before lost a member state.

"This vote is a step away from free trade," said Bob Doll, chief equity strategist Nuveen Asset Management. "When you add to it the specter of the last couple of years of terrorism it causes the average individual ... to be more nationalistic, more populist, more protectionist."

Bond prices surged and yields fell. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note dropped to 1.56 percent from 1.75 percent on Thursday, a large move.

Banks took the largest losses by far. Citigroup plummeted $4.16, or 9.4 percent, to $40.30 and JPMorgan Chase fell $4.45, or 6.9 percent, to $59.60. They have the most to lose in Britain's departure from the EU because they do a lot of cross-border business in Europe based from their offices in London. They also become less profitable when bond yields fall, since that lowers interest rates on mortgages and many other kinds of loans.

Microsoft fell $2.08, or 4 percent, to $49.83 and IBM gave up $8.76, or 5.6 percent, to $146.59. DuPont gave up $3.21, or 4.6 percent, to $66 and LyondelBassel Industries lost $4.14, or 5.2 percent, to $74.91.

The pound fell dramatically, to $1.3638. At one point the British currency hit a 31-year low.

Oil prices sank. Benchmark U.S. crude declined $2.47, or 4.9 percent, to close at $47.64 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell $2.50, or 4.9 percent, to $48.41 a barrel in London.

In addition to bonds, other safety assets also soared. Gold jumped $59.30, or 4.7 percent, to $1,322.40. That's its highest price since July 2014. Silver rose 44 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $17.79 an ounce, its highest in more than a year. Gold producer Newmont Mining rose the most in the S&P 500 index. It climbed $1.80, or 5.1 percent, to $37.19 and set a three-year high.

High-dividend utility companies made tiny gains. Consolidated Edison rose $1.55, or 2 percent, to $78.41 and Duke Energy added 38 cents to $82.43.

The vote only begins the process of Britain's departure from the EU, and it also begins years of negotiations over Britain's trade, business and political links. Observers wonder if other nations will follow in Britain's footsteps by leaving the EU.

"This is a negative in economic terms for the UK," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management. "The EU will be very tough negotiators with them."

Investors had sent stocks higher this week as they gradually grew more confident, based on polls and the changing odds in the betting market, that Britain would stay in the E.U. They sent the pound to its highest price of the year and sold bonds, pushing yields higher. Those gains were rapidly undone Friday.

Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 3.1 percent. At one point it was 8 percent lower. The German DAX index sank 6.8 percent and France's CAC 40 index tumbled 8 percent.

Japan's Nikkei 225 finished a wild day down 7.9 percent, its biggest loss since the global financial crisis in 2008. South Korea's Kospi sank 3.1 percent, its worst day in four years. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index tumbled 4.4 percent and stocks in Shanghai, Taiwan, Sydney, Mumbai and Southeast Asian countries were sharply lower.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline sank 8 cents to $1.53 a gallon. Heating oil fell 7 cents to $1.46 a gallon. Natural gas lost 4 cents to $2.66 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In other currency trading, the dollar fell to 102.24 yen from 104.47 yen while the euro weakened to $1.1121 from $1.1351.

3641

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -260.51 points or ▼ -1.50% on Monday, June 27, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,140.24 ▼ -260.51 ▼ -1.50%
Nasdaq____ 4,594.44 ▼ -113.54 ▼ -2.41%
S&P_500___ 2,000.54 ▼ -36.87 ▼ -1.81%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.28 ▼ -0.15 ▼ -6.21%

NYSE Volume 5,429,822,000
Nasdaq Volume 2,395,420,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 5,982.20 ▼ -156.49 ▼ -2.55%
DAX_____ 9,268.66 ▼ -288.50 ▼ -3.02%
CAC_40__ 3,984.72 ▼ -122.01 ▼ -2.97%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,216.20 ▲ 23.40 ▲ 0.45%
Shanghai_Comp 2,895.70 ▲ 41.42 ▲ 1.45%
Taiwan_Weight 8,458.87 ▼ -18.12 ▼ -0.21%
Nikkei_225___ 15,309.21 ▲ 357.19 ▲ 2.39%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,227.30 ▼ -31.83 ▼ -0.16%
Strait_Times.__ 2,729.85 ▼ -5.54 ▼ -0.20%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,686.93 ▲ 19.15 ▲ 0.29%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-pound-fall-again-due-uk-vote-uncertainty-141856908.html#

Stocks, pound fall again due to UK vote uncertainty
Associated Press By Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer

Investor jitters over the economic fallout of Britain's vote to leave the European Union sent U.S. stocks sharply lower Monday.

The latest slump followed another rough day for European markets and a further weakening of the euro and British pound, which last week plunged to its lowest level since 1985.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's added to the market's anxiety Monday by stripping the UK of its top-shelf credit rating. The firm cited uncertainty over the UK's vote to leave the EU.

Materials companies led the slide on Wall Street. Losses also piled up for financial and technology stocks. Shares in energy companies fell as the price of U.S. crude oil declined.

"When you get major news like this that is unexpected, as the 'Brexit' vote was, it often takes about five trading days to kind of work through the system," said JJ Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 260.51 points, or 1.5 percent, to 17,140.24. The average had been down more than 337 points earlier in the day.

The S&P 500 index slid 36.87 points, or 1.8 percent, to 2,000.54. The Nasdaq composite fell 113.54 points, or 2.4 percent, to 4,594.44.

The three major indexes are down for the year.

Britons voted last Thursday to leave the EU over concerns including immigration and regulation. That move created a wave of uncertainty for financial markets, triggering a sell-off on Friday that resulted in the biggest losses for the Dow and S&P 500 since August, while the Nasdaq notched its worst day since August 2011.

Despite the losses on Friday and Monday, the market is still well above the lows it reached in early February, when the S&P 500 closed as low as 1,829.

"This is a bit of a spillover from Friday," said Eric Wiegand, senior portfolio manager for U.S. Bank's Private Client Reserve. "While it hasn't been a very pleasant two-day period, we're largely erasing some of the rallies we had in the previous five-plus sessions."

Eight of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index posted losses Monday, with materials companies shedding the most, 3.4 percent.

Utilities stocks, traditionally seen as a more attractive investment at times of heightened market volatility, notched the biggest gain, 1.3 percent.

Western Digital declined the most among companies in the S&P 500 index. The maker of data storage products shed $5.66, or 11.8 percent, to $42.18. Rival Seagate Technology slid $2.29, or 9.9 percent, to $20.87.

Banks and other financial companies slumped as investors speculated that the global economic uncertainty caused by Britain's decision to leave the EU will prompt the Federal Reserve to hold off on raising its benchmark interest rate. Banks benefit from higher interest rates, which translate into more revenue from loans and credit cards.

"A lot of the expectations about what these financial stocks would be worth have changed," Kinahan said. "This sort of takes Fed rate raises off the table for a while, maybe through the end of 2016."

Charles Schwab fell $2.10, or 8 percent, to $24.05, while JPMorgan Chase shed $1.99, or 3.3 percent, to $57.61. State Street gave up $4.20, or 7.6 percent, to $50.79.

European stock markets added to their steep losses from Friday. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 2.5 percent, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 each gave up 3 percent.

Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 2.4 percent, making up some of the ground it lost on Friday, when it closed nearly 8 percent lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.2 percent. Seoul's Kospi rose 0.1 percent.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.45 percent from 1.56 late Friday.

In currency markets, the British pound slid to $1.3176 from $1.3638 late Friday, despite the British Treasury's reassurances that the economy was strong enough to withstand the uncertainty. The euro weakened to $1.1005 from $1.1121, while the Japanese yen fell to 101.97 from 102.24.

Benchmark U.S. crude slid $1.31, or 2.7 percent, to $46.33 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell $1.25, or 2.6 percent, to $47.16 a barrel in London.

Wholesale gasoline dropped 5 cents to $1.48 a gallon. Heating oil fell 3 cents to $1.43 a gallon. Natural gas rose 5 cents to $2.72 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold edged up $2.30 to $1,324.70 an ounce, silver slipped 5 cents to $17.79 an ounce and copper fell 1 cent to $2.13 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 269.48 points or ▲ 1.57% on Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,409.72 ▲ 269.48 ▲ 1.57%
Nasdaq____ 4,691.87 ▲ 97.42 ▲ 2.12%
S&P_500___ 2,036.09 ▲ 35.55 ▲ 1.78%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.28 ▲ 0.00 ▲ 0.18%

NYSE Volume 4,341,268,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,881,089,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,140.39 ▲ 158.19 ▲ 2.64%
DAX_____ 9,447.28 ▲ 178.62 ▲ 1.93%
CAC_40__ 4,088.85 ▲ 104.13 ▲ 2.61%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,179.70 ▲ 36.50 ▲ 0.70%
Shanghai_Comp 2,912.56 ▲ 16.85 ▲ 0.58%
Taiwan_Weight 8,505.51 ▲ 46.64 ▲ 0.55%
Nikkei_225___ 15,323.14 ▲ 13.93 ▲ 0.09%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,172.46 ▼ -54.84 ▼ -0.27%
Strait_Times.__ 2,756.53 ▲ 26.68 ▲ 0.98%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,716.58 ▲ 29.65 ▲ 0.44%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rebound-anxiety-over-143425433.html

US stocks rebound as anxiety over British vote eases

U.S. stock indexes mount a broad comeback as investors set aside their anxiety over Britain's vote to leave the European Union and snap up shares following a two-day rout

Associated Press By Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer

U.S. stock indexes mounted a broad comeback Tuesday as investors set aside their anxiety over Britain's vote to leave the European Union and snapped up shares following a two-day rout.

Encouraging data on the U.S. economy and housing market helped put traders in a buying mood. The broad rally followed even bigger gains in Europe, which also bounced back from the steep losses triggered by Britain's "leave" vote last Thursday.

Oil and gas companies led the rally as energy prices rose. Banks and other financial companies, which took the heaviest losses in the sell-off, also surged. Health care, consumer and technology stocks also notched gains. Bond prices fell, sending yields higher.

"We were due for a bounce heading into the morning; we had a couple of tough days there," said Sean Lynch, co-head of global equity strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. "Investors are stepping up and seeing some areas that may have been oversold the past couple of days and redeploying some of their cash."

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 269.48 points, or 1.6 percent, to 17,409.72. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 35.55 points, or 1.8 percent, to 2,036.09. The Nasdaq composite added 97.42 points, or 2.1 percent, to 4,691.87.

Despite the rebound, the three indexes remain on track to end June in the red. They're also down for the year.

European benchmarks had an even better day than U.S. indexes. Britain's FTSE 100 and France's CAC 40 each gained 2.6 percent. Germany's DAX added 1.9 percent.

The euro and the British pound recovered somewhat, though the pound remained near the 30-year lows it plunged to immediately following the British "leave" vote.

Uncertainty and anxiety over the economic fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union had roiled global financial markets since Friday and prompted ratings agencies to slash their top-shelf credit rating for the U.K.

Investors appeared to shake off their some of their jitters Tuesday. British Prime Minister David Cameron signaled he might not trigger a clause setting in motion the U.K.'s exit from the EU before October.

In the U.S., investors got a batch of encouraging economic data to consider.

The Commerce Department raised its estimate of U.S. economic growth in the first three months of the year. Separately, a key gauge of home values showed U.S. home prices climbed in April, hitting record highs in several cities. In addition, the Conference Board said its measure of U.S. consumer confidence increased this month to the highest level since October.

"Obviously, the market isn't very receptive to uncertainty, but in some ways this uncertainty is providing the possibility and the consideration that what happened in the U.K. isn't necessarily reflective of, or an indicator of, a recession, especially here in the U.S. as well as globally," said W. Janet Dougherty, a global investment specialist at J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

Pharmaceutical company Endo International surged 18.3 percent, the biggest gainer in the S&P 500 index. The stock added $2.50 to $16.19.

Xencor vaulted 32.1 percent after the drugmaker announced a partnership with Novartis to develop two cancer drugs. The stock rose $4.02 to $16.56.

Several energy companies also notched gains.

Southwestern Energy climbed $1.47, or 11.8 percent, to $13.89, while Devon Energy added $2.24, or 6.6 percent, to $35.99. Cabot Oil & Gas gained $1.93, or 8 percent, to $25.99.

Earlier in Asia, markets bounced back from early losses as leaders signaled they were ready to step in with support policies. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.1 percent, while South Korea's Kospi added 0.5 percent.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was a laggard, losing 0.3 percent. It was dragged down by companies with high exposure to Europe, such as billionaire tycoon's Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison Holdings, which has British retail, ports and telecom investments and fell 1.7 percent.

In currency markets, the pound recovered to $1.3343 from $1.3176 on Monday. The yen eased slightly against the dollar, though it was still hovering near its strongest level in two years. The dollar rose to 102.79 yen from 101.97 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.1049 from $1.1005.

Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.52, or 3.3 percent, to close at $47.85 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained $1.42, or 3 percent, to close at $48.58 a barrel in London.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline rose 3 cents to $1.51 a gallon. Heating oil added 4 cents to $1.47 a gallon. Natural gas gained 20 cents, or 7.4 percent, to $2.92 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.46 percent from 1.44 late Monday.

In metals trading, gold fell $6.80 to $1,317.90 an ounce, silver rose 10 cents to $17.89 an ounce and copper added 5 cents to $2.18 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 284.96 points or ▲ 1.64% on Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,694.68 ▲ 284.96 ▲ 1.64%
Nasdaq____ 4,779.25 ▲ 87.38 ▲ 1.86%
S&P_500___ 2,070.77 ▲ 34.68 ▲ 1.70%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.28 ▲ 0.00 ▲ 0.22%

NYSE Volume 4,229,033,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,965,553,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,360.06 ▲ 219.67 ▲ 3.58%
DAX_____ 9,612.27 ▲ 164.99 ▲ 1.75%
CAC_40__ 4,195.32 ▲ 106.47 ▲ 2.60%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,221.00 ▲ 41.30 ▲ 0.80%
Shanghai_Comp 2,931.59 ▲ 19.03 ▲ 0.65%
Taiwan_Weight 8,586.56 ▲ 81.05 ▲ 0.95%
Nikkei_225___ 15,566.83 ▲ 243.69 ▲ 1.59%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,436.12 ▲ 263.66 ▲ 1.31%
Strait_Times.__ 2,792.73 ▲ 36.20 ▲ 1.31%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,804.21 ▲ 87.63 ▲ 1.30%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rise-following-strong-gains-global-markets-143101187.html

US stocks claw back half of ground lost post-British vote
Associated Press By ALEX VEIGA

Banks and other financial companies led another broad surge in U.S. stocks Wednesday, turning the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index slightly positive for the year.

It was the second rally in two days for the stock market, which had been rattled since Friday by investor concerns over Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Those worries eased Wednesday as traders shifted money back into stocks. The gains over Tuesday and Wednesday erased more than half of the losses U.S. markets suffered in the two-day slide that kicked off on Friday.

Britain's stock market has recouped all its losses in the same stretch, but other major markets in Europe and Asia have yet to bounce back fully. Markets in France, Germany, Japan and Hong Kong have gotten back about half the ground they lost; Brazil's has recouped about three-quarters.

"The market has moved from a shock," said Erik Davidson, chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank. "The worries around 'Brexit' are now moving from short-term worries to long-term worries, and that's why we're seeing this dramatic rebound in the market."

The Dow gained 284.96 points, or 1.6 percent, to 17,694.68. The S&P 500 index rose 34.68 points, or 1.7 percent, to 2,070. The Nasdaq composite added 87.38 points, or 1.9 percent, to 4,779.25.

European stock indexes posted gains that eclipsed Wall Street's for the second day in a row. The British pound edged up against the dollar following its plunge to 31-year lows after the British vote last week.

Britain's benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, gained 3.6 percent, while Germany's DAX rose 1.7 percent. France's CAC 40 added 2.6 percent.

On Wall Street, financial companies, which had taken the brunt of the selling after the British "leave" vote, rose 2.3 percent. The sector is still down 5.6 percent for the year.

Citigroup jumped 4.2 percent, adding $1.68 to $42.12, while American Express rose $2.02, or 3.5 percent, to $59.63. JPMorgan Chase gained $1.68, or 2.8 percent, to $61.20.

Several oil and gas production and transportation companies also notched gains as the price of crude oil rose sharply. Murphy Oil climbed $1.93, or 6.4 percent, to $32.02. Kinder Morgan rose 82 cents, or 4.6 percent, to $18.53.

The market also got a boost from new data on consumer spending and the latest batch of company deal news.

The Commerce Department said that consumer spending increased 0.4 percent in May on top of a 1.1 percent surge in April. The data underscore that consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, picked up in the spring after getting off to a slow start in 2016.

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce agreed to buy bank holding company PrivateBancorp for $47 per share in cash and stock, or $3.73 billion. News of the deal sent PrivateBancorp shares up 23.3 percent. The stock added $8.36 to $44.29.

Tesaro more than doubled after the drug developer said its targeted pill for recurrent ovarian cancer prevented the disease from worsening for many months after chemotherapy ended. There's no approved maintenance treatment to keep ovarian cancer at bay after chemotherapy. The stock gained $40.19 to $77.40.

Global financial markets were rattled last Friday by the British "leave" vote, which many investors did not seem to anticipate. Stocks and oil fell, as did the pound, while bonds and gold rose thanks to their perceived status as safe havens. Ratings agency S&P slashed its top-shelf credit rating for the U.K.

But the two-day slump broke on Tuesday, as investors appeared to set aside their anxiety over Britain's vote.

In another sign that investors' worries are easing, the VIX, a gauge of expectation of future U.S. stock volatility, fell 11.3 percent Wednesday to 16.6. It had hit 25.8 on Friday.

"The VIX is literally where it was two weeks ago," said Tom Siomades, head of Hartford Funds' Investment Consulting Group. "(Investors) dumped everything on Friday, and when they came back, they realized things aren't as bad and it's going to take a long time to unwind this thing."

Earlier, stock markets in Asia closed broadly.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.6 percent and South Korea's Kospi gained 1 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index added 1.3 percent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.8 percent. Stocks in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia also were higher.

In currency markets, the British pound recovered some of its losses this week but remained near its 31-year low. It rose to $1.3431 from $1.3343 on Tuesday.

The yen, which strengthened sharply after the British referendum, bounced back after an early slide. The dollar fell to 102.56 yen from 102.79 yen. The euro rose to $1.1106 from $1.1049.

In energy futures trading, benchmark U.S. crude surged $2.03, or 4.2 percent, to close at $49.88 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, also rose $2.03, or 4.2 percent, to close at $50.61 a barrel in London.

Among metals, gold rose $9 to $1,326.90 an ounce, silver gained 52 cents to $18.41 an ounce and copper added 1 cent to $2.19 a pound.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note jumped to 1.52 percent from 1.47 percent.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 235.31 points or ▲ 1.33% on Thursday, June 30, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,929.99 ▲ 235.31 ▲ 1.33%
Nasdaq____ 4,842.67 ▲ 63.43 ▲ 1.33%
S&P_500___ 2,098.86 ▲ 28.09 ▲ 1.36%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.31 ▲ 0.03 ▲ 1.18%

NYSE Volume 4,612,765,500
Nasdaq Volume 2,030,439,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,504.33 ▲ 144.27 ▲ 2.27%
DAX_____ 9,680.09 ▲ 67.82 ▲ 0.71%
CAC_40__ 4,237.48 ▲ 42.16 ▲ 1.00%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,310.40 ▲ 89.40 ▲ 1.71%
Shanghai_Comp 2,929.61 ▼ -1.99 ▼ -0.07%
Taiwan_Weight 8,666.58 ▲ 80.02 ▲ 0.93%
Nikkei_225___ 15,575.92 ▲ 9.09 ▲ 0.06%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,794.37 ▲ 358.25 ▲ 1.75%
Strait_Times.__ 2,840.93 ▲ 48.20 ▲ 1.73%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,897.53 ▲ 93.32 ▲ 1.37%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stock-indexes-drift-higher-143022689.html#

US stock indexes extend rally to a 3rd day
Associated Press By ALEX VEIGA

Investors remained in a buying mood Thursday, driving U.S. stocks broadly higher for the third day in a row.

The latest gains added to the market's rebound from the brief, but steep slump that followed Britain's vote to leave the European Union a week ago.

While the rally suggests that traders' anxiety over Britain's departure from the EU have eased, a surge in U.S. bond prices Thursday signaled many investors remain cautious about the possible long-term implications. As bond prices rose, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.47 percent.

Consumer staples companies posted the biggest gains. Utilities stocks, a traditional safe-haven for investors seeking less risk, were a close second. Oil prices fell.

"The equity market has realized that the 'Brexit' in a vacuum by itself is not a reason to wholesale abandon equities," said David Schiegoleit, managing director of investments for the private client reserve at U.S. Bank. "But there is still the fear that it becomes contagious with other economies in Europe."

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 235.31 points, or 1.3 percent, to 17,929.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 28.09 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,098.86. The Nasdaq composite added 63.43 points, or 1.3 percent, to 4,842.67.

The stock market closed out the second quarter with modest gains.

The S&P 500 index added 1.9 percent in the April-June period. Much of the biggest gains came from energy stocks, which benefited from a rebound in oil prices, and utilities and telecom companies, which became more attractive as bond yields declined. The index is up 2.7 percent so far this year.

The Dow, which gained 1.4 percent during the second quarter, is up 2.9 percent this year. The Nasdaq lost 0.6 percent in the second quarter and is down 3.3 percent through the first half of 2016.

Trading got off to a tepid start on Thursday, but got going into rally mode by midmorning, suggesting a resolve among investors to put their worries about Britain's eventual EU exit in their rearview mirror.

Markets in Europe also extended their rebound from the two-day slump that broke on Tuesday. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 2.3 percent. The U.K.'s stock market has recouped its losses, though that is largely thanks to a drop in the British currency, which favors earnings for big companies overseas.

Germany's DAX added 0.7 percent. France's CAC 40 rose 1 percent.

The simultaneous rise in prices for stocks and U.S. bonds on Thursday was unusual and suggests nervous investors overseas are seeking the relative safety of bonds even as other traders look to ride the U.S. stock market rally further, Schiegoleit said.

"You have not only nerves pushing foreign money into U.S. Treasurys, you also have negative yields in several places around the world, which is forcing capital into the U.S. bond market," he said.

Another factor: Over 60 percent of the stocks in the S&P 500 have a dividend yield that's higher than the 10-year U.S. Treasury. That gives even income investors a reason to buy stocks because bonds yields have fallen.

The latest batch of company deal news also helped lift U.S. stocks Thursday.

Cable channel Starz climbed 6 percent after agreeing to be acquired by Lions Gate Entertainment, which owns the "Orange Is The New Black" Netflix series and the "Hunger Games" movies. Starz jumped $1.67 to $29.92. Lions Gate shed 71 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $20.23.

Hershey surged 16.8 percent following a published report that snack company Mondelez has made an overture to acquire the candy maker. Hershey said it rejected the offer. Hershey added $16.35 to $113.49. Mondelez gained $2.54, or 6 percent, to $45.51.

Care.com shares vaulted 37.9 percent after Google Capital invested $46 million in the online family care management service. Care.com added $3.21 to $11.68.

Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1 percent, while South Korea's Kospi rose 0.7 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 1.8 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 1.5.

In energy futures trading, benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.55, or 3.1 percent, to close at $48.33 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, slid 93 cents, or 1.8 percent, to close at $49.68 a barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.50 a gallon, while heating oil shed 5 cents to $1.48 a gallon. Natural gas rose 6 cents to $2.92 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In metals trading, gold lost $6.30 to $1,320.60 an ounce, silver gained 22 cents to $18.62 an ounce and copper added 1 cent to $2.20 a pound.

The pound slipped to $1.3244 from $1.3431, still down sharply from the pre-vote level of $1.50.

The Japanese yen, seen as a safe haven, strengthened sharply after the British referendum, but has become less volatile since then. The dollar was trading at 103.27 yen, up from 102.56 yen on Wednesday. The euro fell to $1.1077 from $1.1106.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 19.38 points or ▲ 0.11% on Friday, July 1, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,949.37 ▲ 19.38 ▲ 0.11%
Nasdaq____ 4,862.57 ▲ 19.89 ▲ 0.41%
S&P_500___ 2,102.95 ▲ 4.09 ▲ 0.19%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.24 ▼ -0.07 ▼ -2.86%

NYSE Volume 3,435,420,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,577,330,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,577.83 ▲ 73.50 ▲ 1.13%
DAX_____ 9,776.12 ▲ 96.03 ▲ 0.99%
CAC_40__ 4,273.96 ▲ 36.48 ▲ 0.86%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,327.00 ▲ 16.60 ▲ 0.31%
Shanghai_Comp 2,932.48 ▲ 2.87 ▲ 0.10%
Taiwan_Weight 8,738.24 ▲ 71.66 ▲ 0.83%
Nikkei_225___ 15,682.48 ▲ 106.56 ▲ 0.68%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,794.37 ▲ 358.25 ▲ 1.75%
Strait_Times.__ 2,846.37 ▲ 5.44 ▲ 0.19%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,926.23 ▲ 28.70 ▲ 0.42%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stock-indexes-edge-higher-142154585.html

US stock indexes end strong week with tiny gains

U.S. stock indexes marked their fourth consecutive gain, an upbeat finish for a week that got off to a turbulent start as investors fretted about Britain's vote to leave the European Union
Associated Press By Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer

U.S. stock indexes marked their fourth consecutive gain Friday, an upbeat finish for a week that got off to a turbulent start as investors fretted about Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

In the days since the two-day market tumble ended on Tuesday, the U.S. stock market came close to regaining all the ground lost since the vote last week. It ended the week up 3 percent, its biggest weekly gain since November.

The main stock indexes in Europe posted even bigger gains this week, with British stocks recouping all their losses along the way.

At the same time, demand for U.S. Treasurys surged this week, driving bond prices sharply higher. That pulled down the yield on the 10-year Treasury note to 1.44 percent Friday, close to its record low.

Investors also bid up the price of gold, another traditional safe-haven.

"Clearly there is still an underlying sense of nervousness," said JJ Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade. "No reasonable economic theory would be telling you to buy bonds with this kind of yield. It's more 'I don't care if I don't make yield, I want my money back.'"

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 19.38 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,949.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 4.09 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,102.95. The Nasdaq composite rose 19.89 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,862.57.

The major stock indexes in Europe got a boost Friday as traders anticipated a coordinated central bank response to soothe volatility in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

The British government said it would abandon its goals of achieving a budget surplus by the end of the decade, which would free up more money for the economy. The announcement came a day after the Bank of England said it would likely offer more monetary stimulus to the British economy to help it cope with the drop in business activity it is experiencing in the days since last week's vote to leave the EU.

All told, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.1 percent Friday, while Germany's DAX gained 1 percent. France's CAC 40 added 0.9 percent.

In the U.S., consumer-focused companies rose more than the rest of the market Friday. Netflix climbed $5.19, or 5.7 percent, to $96.67. Harley-Davidson led the gainers in the S&P 500 index, climbing $8.95, or 19.8 percent, to $54.25.

Financial and utilities stocks were the biggest laggard.

Several automakers reported growth in sales for June, giving a boost to shares in several auto-related companies. Ford Motor, which posted a 6 percent increase in sales for the month, rose 15 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $12.72. General Motors added 59 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $28.89, even though the company posted a 2 percent decline in sales due a large drop in rental sales. Auto supplier BorgWarner also got a lift, rising 77 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $30.29.

Investors flocked to stocks in the face of narrowing choices for investments amid low or negative interest rates on many bonds.

Expectations of more financial stimulus from central banks, which lowers returns on fixed-income investments like bonds, have pushed investors into buying stocks. Returns on many government bonds around the world — particularly in Europe and Japan — are negative.

In Asia, stock markets were mixed.

Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.7 percent, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.9 percent and Taiwan's TAIEX index added 0.8 percent. Australia's S&P ASX 200 index gained 0.3 percent. Southeast Asian markets were mixed. The Hong Kong market was closed for holiday.

The dollar fell to 102.58 yen from 103.27 yen late Thursday. The euro rose to $1.1125 from $1.1077, while the pound fell to $1.3259 from $1.3244.

In energy futures trading, U.S. crude rose 66 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $48.99 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 53 cents to $50.35 a barrel in London. Natural gas rose 6 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $2.9870 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In metals trading, gold gained $18.40, or 1.4 percent, to $1,339 an ounce, while silver rose 97 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $19.59 an ounce. Copper added 2 cents to $2.22 a pound.

Among other big movers Friday:

— Micron Technology slumped 9.2 percent after the memory chip maker reported disappointing sales and gave an outlook that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. The company also said it will eliminate jobs to reduce its spending. The stock shed $1.26 to $12.50.

4129

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

Independence Day Holiday in the United States July 4 2016

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 19.38 points or ▲ 0.11% on Monday, July 4, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,949.37 ▲ 19.38 ▲ 0.11% Holiday
Nasdaq____ 4,862.57 ▲ 19.89 ▲ 0.41% Holiday
S&P_500___ 2,102.95 ▲ 4.09 ▲ 0.19% Holiday
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.24 ▼ -0.07 ▼ -2.86% Holiday

NYSE Volume 3,449,151,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,602,090,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,522.26 ▼ -55.57 ▼ -0.84%
DAX_____ 9,709.09 ▼ -67.03 ▼ -0.69%
CAC_40__ 4,234.86 ▼ -39.10 ▼ -0.91%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,365.20 ▲ 38.20 ▲ 0.72%
Shanghai_Comp 2,988.60 ▲ 56.13 ▲ 1.91%
Taiwan_Weight 8,760.58 ▲ 22.34 ▲ 0.26%
Nikkei_225___ 15,775.80 ▲ 93.32 ▲ 0.60%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,059.20 ▲ 264.83 ▲ 1.27%
Strait_Times.__ 2,870.56 ▲ 24.19 ▲ 0.85%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,940.95 ▲ 14.72 ▲ 0.21%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asian...t-easing-expectations-052127650--finance.html

Stocks dip in Europe amid thin trading, US shut for holiday

European stock markets are down slightly, despite gains earlier in Asia, as investors await more clarity on Britain's future outside the European Union and a U.S. holiday kept trading volumes thin
Associated Press By Joe Mcdonald, AP Business Writer

BEIJING (AP) -- European stock markets slipped Monday, despite gains earlier in Asia, as investors awaited more clarity on Britain's future outside the European Union and a U.S. holiday kept trading volumes thin.

KEEPING SCORE: Germany's DAX fell 0.7 percent to close at 9,709.09 and France's CAC 40 shed 0.9 percent to 4,234.86. Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.8 percent to 6,522.26. While Wall Street was closed for the Fourth of July holiday, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.9 percent to 2,988.60 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.3 percent to 21,059.20. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 advanced 0.6 percent to 15,775.80 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.7 percent to 5,281.80.

POST-BREXIT STIMULUS: Investor sentiment was boosted last week by expectations the Bank of England and European Central Bank might provide monetary stimulus to shore up growth following Britain's vote and the U.S. Federal Reserve might postpone a rate hike. The top British central banker, Mark Carney, said that some form of stimulus "will likely be required over the summer" because the economic outlook has deteriorated.

EUROPEAN JITTERS: But the momentum in stock markets did not last in Europe, as the prospect of low interest rates for longer has hurt financial stocks. Banks take a hit to their earnings when interest rates are low, because they cannot lend money at higher, more profitable rates. Shares in Italian banks in particular are suffering because of concern about their ability to handle bad loans. There are also concerns about longer-term growth rates in Europe as uncertainty about Britain's exit lingers.

ANALYST QUOTE: "The recession we now expect in the U.K. will create an external demand shock for the euro area through trade linkages in goods and services," said Ruben Segura-Cayuela and Gilles Moec, economists at Bank of American Merrill Lynch. They expect "uncertainty spillovers" from the U.K. exit, mainly through lower business investment.

AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS: Close election results left Australia with the possibility of a hung Parliament. Vote counting was due to resume Tuesday and political analysts said it could be two weeks or more before a result is announced. "Markets will be concerned by the potential for a period of policy paralysis when it comes to budget and economic reform," Ric Spooner of CMC Markets said in a report.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude shed 13 cent to $48.86 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 66 cents on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, dropped 18 cents to $50.17 in London. It rose 64 cents the previous session.

CURRENCY: The dollar edged up to 102.51 yen from Friday's 102.49 yen. The euro rose to $1.1146 from $1.1139, and the pound was roughly flat at $1.3295.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -108.75 points or ▼ -0.61% on Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,840.62 ▼ -108.75 ▼ -0.61%
Nasdaq____ 4,822.90 ▼ -39.67 ▼ -0.82%
S&P_500___ 2,088.55 ▼ -14.40 ▼ -0.68%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.14 ▼ -0.10 ▼ -4.60%

NYSE Volume 3,643,179,750
Nasdaq Volume 1,545,659,120

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,545.37 ▲ 23.11 ▲ 0.35%
DAX_____ 9,532.61 ▼ -176.48 ▼ -1.82%
CAC_40__ 4,163.42 ▼ -71.44 ▼ -1.69%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,312.80 ▼ -52.40 ▼ -0.98%
Shanghai_Comp 3,006.39 ▲ 17.79 ▲ 0.60%
Taiwan_Weight 8,716.07 ▼ -44.51 ▼ -0.51%
Nikkei_225___ 15,669.33 ▼ -106.47 ▼ -0.67%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,750.72 ▼ -308.48 ▼ -1.46%
Strait_Times.__ 2,864.67 ▼ -5.89 ▼ -0.21%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,970.99 ▲ 30.04 ▲ 0.43%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-skid-fears-british-141434327.html

Stocks skid, bond yields hit record lows on British worries
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks slumped Tuesday as investors grew fearful over the health of the British financial system. Looking for safety, they flocked to Treasury notes and pushed the yields on long-term government bonds to all-time lows. Energy companies took the biggest losses as oil prices tumbled.

Investors were jolted after three U.K. financial firms stopped trading in their commercial property funds because large numbers of investors were trying to liquidate their holdings.

Stocks mostly fell, although investors bought shares of companies seen as safe plays, like household goods makers and utilities. Bond yields plunged, with the 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields reaching record-low levels as demand for Treasuries rose and prices jumped.

It was an abrupt end to a big four-day rally for stocks, and a reminder that the effects of Britain's vote to leave the European Union has left markets deeply unsettled. Answers may be very slow in coming.

"We've seen a tremendous rally pretty much every night in longer-term bonds" since the vote, said Tom di Galoma, managing director at Seaport Global Holdings. "There's just so many unanswered questions both from the legal standpoint, a diplomatic standpoint, an economic standpoint."

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 108.75 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,840.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 14.40 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,088.55. The Nasdaq composite lost 39.67 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,822.90. U.S. markets were closed Monday for the Independence Day holiday.

Stocks took a steep two-day plunge last month after Britain voted to leave the European Union. Over the last four days they recovered almost all of the ground they lost after the vote.

On Tuesday the trouble began when Aviva Investors, Standard Life and M&G Investments stopped trading in their commercial property funds. The firms said they were protecting other investors who wished to remain in their respective funds. The Bank of England said it eased bank rules to allow them to lend up to 150 billion pounds ($200 billion) to households and businesses.

The pound fell to $1.3032 from $1.3259 on Tuesday, its weakest in 31 years.

The yield on the 10-year note dropped to 1.38 percent in late trading, down from 1.45 percent late Friday. It went as low as 1.36 percent during the day, according to Tradeweb. The yield on the 30-year note fell to 2.16 percent. It was 2.24 percent Friday.

According to Tradeweb, the yield on the 10-year and 30-year Treasury notes are both at all-time lows. They've tumbled this year as worries about the global economy, the U.S. Federal Reserve and now Britain have investors craving safety.

Other traditionally steady investments also did well. Gold rose $19.70, or 1.5 percent, to $1,358.70 an ounce. Silver gained 32 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $19.91 an ounce. Copper lost 3 cents to $2.18 a pound. Gold is at its highest price in more than two years and silver is the highest it's been since August 2014.

Benchmark U.S. crude sank $2.39, or 4.9 percent, to close at $46.60 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell $2.14, or 4.3 percent, to close at $47.96 a barrel in London. That pulled energy companies lower. Halliburton shed $2.03, or 4.5 percent, to $43.53 and ConocoPhillips gave up $1.81, or 4.2 percent, to $41.70. Schlumberger retreated $1.89, or 2.4 percent, to $77.63.

Lower bond yields translate to lower interest rates on many kinds of loans such as mortgages, and that hurts bank profits. Citigroup lost $1.39, or 3.3 percent, to $40.78 and Goldman Sachs fell $3.80, or 2.6 percent, to $144.45.

Chemical and mining companies also took large losses. But the types of stocks that are generally considered the safest all traded higher. Those included household goods companies. Clorox added $2.08, or 1.5 percent, to $139.24 and Coca-Cola added 31 cents to $45.43. Also rising were phone and utility companies.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 8 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $1.43 a gallon. Heating oil lost 7 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $1.45 a gallon. Natural gas dropped 22 cents, or 7.5 percent, to $2.76 per 1,000 cubic feet.

A majority stake in Hostess Brands, the company that makes Twinkies and Ding Dongs, is being acquired by Gores Holdings. Gores will pay $375 million in cash and commit another $350 million in the deal. Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection four years ago. Gores Holdings is an acquisition company run by the private equity firm Gores Group. The holding company's stock added 23 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $10.01.

Insys Therapeutics climbed after the Food and Drug Administration approved its drug Syndros, a synthetic version of THC, a component of marijuana. Syndros is intended to treat severe weight loss in AIDS patients and nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. The stock jumped 93 cents, or 7 percent, to $14.40.

Outside the U.S., stock indexes were mostly lower. France's CAC 40 fell 1.7 percent and Germany's DAX lost 1.8 percent. However Britain's FTSE 100 picked up 0.4 percent. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.7 percent to finish and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dipped 1.4 percent.

The dollar fell to 101.49 yen from 102.58 yen. The euro slid to $1.1075 from $1.1125.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 78 points or ▲ 0.44% on Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,918.62 ▲ 78.00 ▲ 0.44%
Nasdaq____ 4,859.16 ▲ 36.26 ▲ 0.75%
S&P_500___ 2,099.73 ▲ 11.18 ▲ 0.54%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.15 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.65%

NYSE Volume 3,892,778,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,726,917,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,463.59 ▼ -81.78 ▼ -1.25%
DAX_____ 9,373.26 ▼ -159.35 ▼ -1.67%
CAC_40__ 4,085.30 ▼ -78.12 ▼ -1.88%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,284.70 ▼ -28.10 ▼ -0.53%
Shanghai_Comp 3,017.29 ▲ 10.90 ▲ 0.36%
Taiwan_Weight 8,575.75 ▼ -140.32 ▼ -1.61%
Nikkei_225___ 15,378.99 ▼ -290.34 ▼ -1.85%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,495.29 ▼ -255.43 ▼ -1.23%
Strait_Times.__ 2,864.67 ▼ -5.89 ▼ -0.21%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,977.23 ▲ 6.24 ▲ 0.09%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-slip-further-bond-142806045.html

US stocks rise as drugmakers gain; gold keeps climbing
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks changed course and turned higher Wednesday, with drug and consumer companies leading the way. Investors were willing to take a few more risks than the day before, but they remained cautious, and demand for bonds and precious metals stayed high.

Stocks opened lower, and the Dow Jones industrial average fell as much as 127 points early on. Indexes started moving higher at noon and finished at their highest levels of the day. Phone companies, traditionally safe investments, fell after some recent gains. Bond prices were little changed after Tuesday’s surge, which pulled the yields on long-term U.S. bonds to their lowest levels ever recorded.

The day before, investors flocked to bonds and sold off all but the steadiest stocks as they worried about the health of Britain’s financial system. Those fears faded a bit on Wednesday, but Kristina Hooper, head of U.S. investment strategies at Allianz Global Investors, said demand for bonds will remain high as the effects of the British vote to leave the European Union ripple through the markets.

“It’s probably safe to assume there will be bouts of continued fear going forward that could drive the yield down … even lower than where we’ve already been,” she said.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 78 points, or 0.4 percent, to 17,918.62. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 11.18 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,099.73. The Nasdaq composite gained 36.26 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,859.16.

Drugmakers AbbVie and Biogen led health care stocks higher after regulators in the European Union approved their drug Zinbryta, a treatment for multiple sclerosis that can be take just once a month. AbbVie rose $1.45, or 2.3 percent, to $63.37 and Biogen gained $5.45, or 2.3 percent, to $247.48.

Bond prices inched higher and yields fell as investors sought safety following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.37 percent from 1.38 percent and the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell to 2.14 percent from 2.15 percent. According to Tradeweb, both yields set all-time lows early Wednesday, reaching 1.32 percent and 2.10 percent, respectively.

Bond yields have tumbled over the last few months following a weak U.S. jobs report and then the unexpected result of the British referendum to leave the European Union. While the yields on U.S. bonds have fallen, they remain higher than yields from other advanced economies, some of which are negative. The U.S. economy also appears to be in better shape.

Netflix fell after a Jefferies & Co. analyst said its U.S. subscriber growth may be slower than expected. John Janedis also said competition is increasing for Netflix. He downgraded the stock to “Underperform” from “Hold” and cut his price target to $80 per share from $120. Netflix lost $3.31, or 3.4 percent, to $94.60.

Other consumer stocks traded higher, however. Online retailer Amazon rose $9.51, or 1.3 percent, to $737.61 and used car dealership CarMax gained $2.69, or 5.6 percent, to $50.45.

Phone company stocks were the only S&P 500 sector to trade lower. Frontier Communications pulled the sector to small losses as it gave up 10 cents, or 2 percent, to $4.88. Phone companies are the best-performing sector on the S&P 500 over the last month.

Nortek, which makes heating and ventilation systems for buildings, agreed to be acquired by Melrose Industries PLC for $86 per share, or $1.4 billion. Nortek stock jumped $24.09, or 38.6 percent, to $86.58.

The price of gold rose $8.40 to $1,367.10 an ounce and silver surged 30 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $20.20 an ounce. Gold is trading at its highest price since March 2014 while silver is at its highest price since August of that year. Newmont Mining gained $1.04, or 2.6 percent, to $41.42 and Harmony Gold rose 22 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $4.32.

Copper, meanwhile, fell 3 cents to $2.15 a pound.

Oil prices, which fell earlier in the day, also reversed course. Benchmark U.S. crude closed up 83 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $47.43 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, added 84 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $48.80 a barrel in London.

Gas prices lagged after the U.S. government said stockpiles of gasoline jumped last week. That was a surprise to analysts, as S&P Global Platts says they expected gasoline stockpiles to fall by 900,000 barrels.

The price of wholesale gasoline remained at $1.43 a gallon, and companies that refine oil into gas stumbled. Marathon Petroleum fell $2.28, or 5.9 percent, to $36.50 and Valero Energy fell $1.18, or 2.4 percent, to $48.66. Phillips 66 slumped $1.56, or 2 percent, to $76.37.

In other energy trading, heating oil gained 3 cents to $1.47 a gallon. Natural gas rose 2 cents to $2.79 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The British pound continued to weaken. It’s at its lowest in more than 30 years and fell to $1.2922 from $1.3032 Wednesday. The dollar slipped to 101.40 yen from 101.55 yen on Tuesday. The euro rose to $1.1105 from $1.1075.

France’s CAC lost 1.9 percent and Germany’s DAX shed 1.7 percent while Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 1.2 percent. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi each skidded 1.9 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slid 1.2 percent.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -22.74 points or ▼ -0.13% on Thursday, July 7, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,895.88 ▼ -22.74 ▼ -0.13%
Nasdaq____ 4,876.81 ▲ 17.65 ▲ 0.36%
S&P_500___ 2,097.90 ▼ -1.83 ▼ -0.09%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.14 ▼ -0.01 ▼ -0.56%

NYSE Volume 3,589,306,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,555,933,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,533.79 ▲ 70.20 ▲ 1.09%
DAX_____ 9,418.78 ▲ 45.52 ▲ 0.49%
CAC_40__ 4,117.85 ▲ 32.55 ▲ 0.80%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,311.00 ▲ 26.30 ▲ 0.50%
Shanghai_Comp 3,016.85 ▼ -0.45 ▼ -0.01%
Taiwan_Weight 8,640.91 ▲ 65.16 ▲ 0.76%
Nikkei_225___ 15,276.24 ▼ -102.75 ▼ -0.67%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,706.92 ▲ 211.63 ▲ 1.03%
Strait_Times.__ 2,862.17 ▼ -2.50 ▼ -0.09%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,007.52 ▲ 30.29 ▲ 0.43%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rise-survey-shows-142103202.html

Stocks end mixed as crude oil dives and safety stocks fall
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks swerved between gains and losses Thursday and wound up with a muddled finish as the price of oil plunged. Investors also sold utility and phone company stocks. They have favored those companies all year, especially in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union last month.

Stocks started higher, building on gains from the previous day. But they fell after a government report that showed oil stockpiles did not shrink as much as investors had hoped. Investors sold government bonds after buying them at a rapid clip earlier this week, and precious metals prices also slid. Energy companies were hammered as the price of oil dropped almost 5 percent.

Nate Thooft, head of global asset allocation for Manulife Asset Management, noted that stocks and oil prices have often traded in tandem this year.

"Where oil goes, stocks go," he said. "Oil fell dramatically pretty quickly."

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 22.74 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,895.88. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 1.83 points, or 0.1 percent, at 2,097.90. The Nasdaq composite rose 17.65 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,876.81. The Dow rose as much as 66 points in the morning and fell as much as 102 points in the afternoon.

The price of oil fell after the Energy Information Administration said crude oil inventories shrank by 2.2 million barrels last week. Analysts expected a bigger drop of 2.6 million barrels, according to S&P Global Platts. Inventories have been at historically high levels lately as the supply of oil outstrips demand.

Investors sold some of the safest groups of stocks.

Duke Energy shed $1.94, or 2.2 percent, to $85.29. Xcel Energy lost $1.01, or 2.2 percent, to $44.32. AT&T fell 80 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $42.30. The S&P 500's utility and phone company indexes have both climbed 20 percent this year. Bond prices dipped. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.39 percent from 1.37 percent. The yield on the 30-year Treasury note remained around 2.14 percent. Both notes have set all-time lows over recent days.

Gold, which is trading at its highest price in more than two years, lost $5 to $1,362.10 an ounce. Silver lost 37 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $19.84 an ounce. Copper shed 3 cents to $2.12 a pound.

Benchmark U.S. crude lost $2.29, or 4.8 percent, to $45.14 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost $2.40, or 4.9 percent, to $46.40 a barrel in London. In the morning oil prices rose almost 2 percent.

Exxon Mobil fell $1.13, or 1.2 percent, to $92.96 and Chevron retreated $1.53, or 1.5 percent, to $103.05.

Organic food maker WhiteWave Foods jumped after French yogurt giant Danone agreed to buy the company for $56.25 a share, or about $10 billion. The deal would expand Danone's range of health foods and the U.S. market. WhiteWave gained $8.80, or 18.6 percent, to $56.23.

Dutch anti-virus software company AVG Technologies surged after rival Avast Software agreed to buy it for $25 a share, or $1.3 billion. AVG stock advanced $5.79, or 30.8 percent, to $24.58.

Health insurers Aetna and Humana slumped as investors worried that the government will stop the companies from combining. Aetna, the third-largest U.S. health insurer, agreed to buy Humana last year for about $35 billion in cash and stock. But the companies can't complete the deal without approval from the Department of Justice.

Humana stock dropped $17.24, or 9.6 percent, to $162.74 and Aetna skidded $4.77, or 4 percent, to $115.47.

Investors are looking at reports showing healthy hiring. A survey by payroll processor ADP said private U.S. companies added 172,000 jobs in June, a sign hiring may have picked up again after it slowed down in April and May. Meanwhile the U.S. government said weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, another sign employers continue to hire more workers. The government will release its own jobs report on Friday.

"There's a general consensus that there's going to be a bounce-back for June," Thooft said. He said stocks could trade lower if the results are disappointing, but added that if the report is solid or better than expected, investors might wonder if that will encourage the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

Costco stock gained $7.69, or 4.9 percent, to $163.70 after investors were pleased with the warehouse club operator's June sales.

Hard drive maker Western Digital forecast stronger results for its fiscal fourth quarter after it acquired flash memory chip maker SanDisk in May. Western Digital stock rose $2.20, or 4.8 percent, to $47.66.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline lost 7 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $1.36 a gallon. Heating oil fell 6 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $1.41 a gallon. Natural gas lost 1 cent to $2.78 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.1 percent, France's CAC 40 added 0.8 percent and Germany's DAX increased 0.5 percent. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.7 percent. South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.1 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1 percent.

The dollar declined to 100.76 yen from 101.40 yen. The euro fell to $1.1055 from $1.1105. The British pound declined to $1.2896 from $1.2922. It's been trading at 30-year lows over the last few days.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 250.86 points or ▲ 1.40% on Friday, July 8, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,146.74 ▲ 250.86 ▲ 1.40%
Nasdaq____ 4,956.76 ▲ 79.95 ▲ 1.64%
S&P_500___ 2,129.90 ▲ 32.00 ▲ 1.53%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.11 ▼ -0.03 ▼ -1.40%

NYSE Volume 3,541,475,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,821,231,620

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,590.64 ▲ 56.85 ▲ 0.87%
DAX_____ 9,629.66 ▲ 210.88 ▲ 2.24%
CAC_40__ 4,190.68 ▲ 72.83 ▲ 1.77%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,315.60 ▲ 4.60 ▲ 0.09%
Shanghai_Comp 2,988.09 ▼ -28.75 ▼ -0.95%
Taiwan_Weight 8,640.91 ▲ 65.16 ▲ 0.76%
Nikkei_225___ 15,106.98 ▼ -169.26 ▼ -1.11%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,564.17 ▼ -142.75 ▼ -0.69%
Strait_Times.__ 2,847.04 ▼ -15.13 ▼ -0.53%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,000.10 ▼ -7.42 ▼ -0.11%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-climb-strong-june-142821304.html

Stocks finish just short of a record on strong jobs report

US stocks finish close to record highs after the government's June jobs report came in much stronger than investors expected
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks surged Friday, finishing just short of record highs, as investors responded enthusiastically to a strong June job market report.

The buying accelerated throughout the day after the Labor Department said U.S. employers added 287,000 jobs last month. That was far more than analysts expected, and after weak reports from April and May, it suggests the economy and job market haven't run out of steam.

"It was a strong report and it put to bed worries that we were seeing the job market sputter," said Kate Warne, investment strategist for Edward Jones.

Mining and materials companies, which would stand to benefit more than other industries from an accelerating economy, took the biggest gains. Machinery makers also jumped. Only eight stocks on the Standard & Poor's 500 finished lower.

The Dow Jones industrial average surged 250.86 points, or 1.4 percent, to 18,146.74. The S&P 500 rose 32 points, or 1.5 percent, to 2,129.90. The Nasdaq composite advanced 79.95 points, or 1.6 percent, to 4,956.76.

The government said the unemployment rate rose slightly as more people looked for jobs. There was also evidence wages were rising faster. The April and May reports worried investors, in part because they came after the economy grew just 1.1 percent over the first three months of 2016. The U.S. economy has been growing for more than six years and investors are wary that that streak could end.

Among material and industrial companies, paint and coatings maker PPG Industries added $3.29, or 3.2 percent, to $106.32 and aluminum producer Alcoa picked up 48 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $9.82. Machinery maker Caterpillar climbed $2.32, or 3.1 percent, to $77.37 and aerospace company Boeing gained $2.92, or 2.3 percent, to $130.09.

Retailer Gap climbed after it said sales at stores open at least a year grew in June as Old Navy results improved. Sales at those stores are considered an important measure of retailers' results, and Thomson Reuters said it was the first improvement in that gauge for Gap in more than a year. Analysts expected another decline this month.

Gap stock rose $1.07, or 4.9 percent, to $22.70. The stock is down 8 percent this year.

Videoconferencing equipment maker Polycom said it will be taken private by Siris Capital. It accepted an offer from Siris worth $12.50 per share, or $1.7 billion. Polycom accepted an offer from Mitel Networks in April. Polycom stock gained $1.38, or 12.7 percent, to $12.25. Mitel, which will get a $60 million payment from Polycom, climbed $1.19, or 19.8 percent, to $7.21.

The S&P 500 is less than a point away from the record high it set in May 2015. The Dow, too, is close to a record. They reached those peaks before investors got very worried about the slowdown in China's economy, before the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates for the first time in almost nine years, and before anyone thought Britain might really vote to leave the European Union.

While all of those concerns have hurt stocks, they have recovered. But it's been a very careful, uneasy rally. The stocks that have done the best in the last year are phone companies and utilities, which pay big dividends and are considered safe. U.S. bond yields have set all-time lows in the last few days. Gold is at its highest price in two years.

U.S. economic growth has been steady but uninspiring and corporate profits and revenues are in a slump. But the alternatives don't look any better. China has been shaky. The economies of Japan and Europe are weak, and the yields on some European bonds are negative as nations try to boost their economic growth. That means investors have to pay to own those bonds. So even if U.S. stocks aren't setting the world alight, they've been good enough.

"I don't think investors are nearly as excited as they would typically be in an environment where stocks are close to record highs," said Warne.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.36 percent from 1.39 percent. That's far below the 2.29 percent level it began the year at. When demand for bonds is high, their prices rise and yields fall. That has the effect of sending interest rates on many kinds of loans including mortgages lower, since those rates are tied to bond yields.

Drug developer Juno Therapeutics said it halted a mid-stage study on a potential leukemia treatment following the deaths of two patients. The study involved the company's most advanced experimental drug, and Juno said the deaths of the patients came after an additional chemotherapy drug was added to their treatment. The stock sank $13.01, or 31.9 percent, to $27.81.

Energy prices were slightly higher. Benchmark U.S. crude added 27 cents to $45.41 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a standard for international oil prices, picked up 36 cents to 46.76 a barrel in London.

Gold lost $3.70 to $1,358.40 an ounce. Silver picked up 26 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $20.10 an ounce. Copper held steady at $2.12 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline rose 1 cent to $1.37 a gallon. Heating oil remained at $1.41 a gallon. Natural gas added 2 cents to $2.80 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Germany's DAX jumped 2.2 percent and the CAC-40 in France was 1.8 percent higher. In Britain, the FTSE 100 added 0.9 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 1.1 percent down. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.7 percent and South Korea's KOSPI lost 0.6 percent.

The dollar fell to 100.46 yen from 100.76 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1049 from $1.1055. The British pound rose to $1.2952 from $1.2896.

4768

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 80.19 points or ▲ 0.44% on Monday, July 11, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,226.93 ▲ 80.19 ▲ 0.44%
Nasdaq____ 4,988.64 ▲ 31.88 ▲ 0.64%
S&P_500___ 2,137.16 ▲ 7.26 ▲ 0.34%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.15 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 1.90%

NYSE Volume 3,230,127,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,602,079,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,682.86 ▲ 92.22 ▲ 1.40%
DAX_____ 9,833.41 ▲ 203.75 ▲ 2.12%
CAC_40__ 4,264.53 ▲ 73.85 ▲ 1.76%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,417.50 ▲ 101.90 ▲ 1.92%
Shanghai_Comp 2,994.92 ▲ 6.82 ▲ 0.23%
Taiwan_Weight 8,786.47 ▲ 145.56 ▲ 1.68%
Nikkei_225___ 15,708.82 ▲ 601.84 ▲ 3.98%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,880.50 ▲ 316.33 ▲ 1.54%
Strait_Times.__ 2,876.14 ▲ 29.10 ▲ 1.02%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,062.45 ▲ 62.35 ▲ 0.89%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-gain-putting-p-500-142349020.html

Stocks gain, setting a new record high for S&P 500 index

NEW YORK (AP) ”” The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed at a record high Monday, beating the mark it set a bit over a year ago.

The Dow Jones industrial average was within 1 percent of its own closing high, which was also set in May last year, but the Nasdaq composite has further to go. The technology-focused index is still negative for the year and would have to gain nearly 5 percent to regain the closing high it reached last July.

The S&P 500 gained 7.26 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,137.16. That beat the record close of 2,130.82 it reached on May 21, 2015.

The Dow rose 80.19 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,226.93. The Nasdaq composite rose 31.88 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,988.64.

The market has had a rough ride in the year since the S&P 500's last record. Investors have been rattled by plunging oil prices, falling corporate earnings, fears over possible rising interest rates, slowing growth in China, and, most recently, Britain's historic vote to leave the European Union.

In the weeks since the British referendum on June 23, however, many investors have come around to thinking that the consequences of the vote, which has come to be known as "Brexit," may be contained largely to Britain, and they've gone back to buying stocks again.

Jonathan Corpina, senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners, expressed surprise that the market has bounced back so much that the S&P 500 has reached another record high.

"If you looked at the headlines from Brexit, you'd think that the world was coming to an end," Corpina said. "And very quickly, in a matter of weeks, that was completely erased."

Technology stocks and banks rose more than the rest of the market, while utilities and phone companies, which investors have favored recently for their steady dividends, fell. Boeing rose $1.95, or 1.5 percent, to $132.04 and Citigroup added 31 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $42.29.

This week investors are turning their focus to company earnings. Aluminum maker Alcoa reported its quarterly earnings after the closing bell Monday, and JPMorgan Chase will release its own results on Thursday.

Earnings per share for companies in the S&P 500 index are expected to fall 5.4 percent for the second quarter, the fourth straight quarterly drop, according to research firm S&P Global Market Intelligence. But some investors think the worst is over as oil prices stabilize, the jobs market strengthens and consumers start spending more.

"When consumers start to spend more, producers have to produce more, which means they have to hire more workers," said John Manley, chief equity strategist for Wells Fargo Fund Management. "It's a virtuous cycle."

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 4 percent following a weekend election that landed the ruling coalition a resounding victory, ensuring stability and more stimulus spending for the world's third-largest economy.

European markets closed sharply higher. France's CAC 40 gained 1.8 percent, while Germany's DAX climbed 2.1 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 added 1.4 percent. Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi gained 1.3 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.5 percent.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell 65 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $44.76 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a standard for international oil prices, lost 51 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $46.25 a barrel in London.

In other energy trading in New York, wholesale gasoline rose 1 cent to $1.38 a gallon, heating oil was flat at $1.42 a gallon and natural gas dropped 10 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $2.70 percent.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.43 percent from 1.36 percent. The dollar rose to 102.77 yen from 100.46 yen. The euro rose to $1.1058 from $1.1049.

Gold fell $1.80 to $1,356.60 an ounce, silver rose 2 cents to $20.30 an ounce and copper rose 3 cents to $2.15 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 120.74 points or ▲ 0.66% on Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,347.67 ▲ 120.74 ▲ 0.66%
Nasdaq____ 5,022.82 ▲ 34.18 ▲ 0.69%
S&P_500___ 2,152.14 ▲ 14.98 ▲ 0.70%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.23 ▲ 0.08 ▲ 3.77%

NYSE Volume 4,057,556,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,758,964,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,680.69 ▼ -2.17 ▼ -0.03%
DAX_____ 9,964.07 ▲ 130.66 ▲ 1.33%
CAC_40__ 4,331.38 ▲ 66.85 ▲ 1.57%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,433.20 ▲ 15.70 ▲ 0.29%
Shanghai_Comp 3,049.38 ▲ 54.46 ▲ 1.82%
Taiwan_Weight 8,841.46 ▲ 54.99 ▲ 0.63%
Nikkei_225___ 16,095.65 ▲ 386.83 ▲ 2.46%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,224.74 ▲ 344.24 ▲ 1.65%
Strait_Times.__ 2,901.82 ▲ 25.68 ▲ 0.89%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,079.46 ▲ 17.01 ▲ 0.24%

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/07/12/world/asia/ap-financial-markets.html?_r=0

Dow Jones Industrial Average Closes at a Record High

NEW YORK ”” The stock market reached another milestone Tuesday as the Dow Jones industrial average closed at a record high.

A day earlier, the broader Standard & Poor's 500, a widely used benchmark for index funds, also reached a record-high close. Both indexes beat peaks set in May 2015.

The Dow, which is made up of just 30 stocks, is an older and better-known barometer of the market than the S&P 500, but professional investors generally pay much closer attention to the S&P 500.

The Dow rose 120.74 points, or 0.7 percent, to 18,347.67. That is 35 points higher than its previous closing high set on May 19 last year.

The S&P 500 gained 14.98 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,152.14. The Nasdaq composite rose 34.18 points, or 0.7 percent, to 5,022.82.

The Nasdaq is still lagging the other two main U.S. stock market indexes. The index, which is heavily weighted with technology and biotech stocks, erased its losses for the year on Tuesday.

The Dow and S&P 500 are each up 5.3 percent for 2016, having roared back following a big drop in January and early February. The S&P has soared 17.7 percent since reaching a low of the year of 1,829 on Feb. 11.

Investors continued to show an appetite for taking on risk. The biggest gainers included energy companies, which have been benefiting from a recovery in the price of oil, materials companies and banks.

Financial companies, which have lagged the market this year, have been rising in recent days as long-term interest rates move higher in the bond market. Higher rates mean banks can make more money from lending. Citigroup gained 93 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $43.44.

Despite recent increases, however, bond yields remain near historic lows, a worrisome sign to many analysts. Just last week the yield on the 10-year Treasury note touched an all-time low. Bond yields tend to fall when demand for bonds rises, which can indicate that investors are seeking safety.

"I wish we can be celebrating, but it's a little disconcerting," said Rob Bartenstein, CEO of Kestra Private Wealth Services. "You've got government bonds at historical lows and equity markets at historical highs. That's not something you see at the same time. ... I feel underinvested, but I'm not willing to chase stocks."

Sectors that investors tend to favor when they're nervous, including utilities, phone companies and makers of consumer staples, all fell as investors moved money out of lower-risk assets. Bond prices also fell sharply, sending yields higher.

Aluminum maker Alcoa kicked off the second quarter earnings season on a positive note by reporting revenue and profit that beat Wall Street expectations. The stock jumped 55 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $10.69. Earnings for companies in the S&P 500 are expected to fall compared to the year ago period, but then rise in the next quarter.

Seagate Technology surged $5.26, or 21.8 percent, to $29.35 after forecasting strong sales. It also announced it will cut 6,500 jobs, about 14 percent of its total.

Benchmark U.S. crude added $2.04 to close at $46.80 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a standard for international oil prices, rose $2.22 to $48.47 a barrel in London. In other energy trading in New York, wholesale gasoline rose 5 cents to $1.43 a gallon, heating oil rose 5 cents to $1.46 a gallon and natural gas rose 3 cents to $2.73 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.5 percent, a day after soaring 4 percent. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised new government spending to help jolt Asia's second-biggest economy back to life now that his Liberal Democratic Party has won in parliamentary elections. Investors are betting he'll keep flooding the market with money by expanding bond purchases.

Elsewhere in Asia, Korea's Kospi edged up 0.1 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.7 percent. In Europe, France's CAC 40 rose 1.6 percent and Germany's DAX added 1.3 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was flat.

Shares of Nintendo jumped 12.7 percent in Tokyo, fueled by the craze for "Pokemon Go," a smartphone game that's become the top grossing app in the iPhone store less than a week after its release in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

U.S. government bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.50 percent from 1.43 percent. The yield plunged last week as low as 1.32 percent, an all-time low, according to Tradeweb.

The dollar rose to 104.79 yen from 102.77 yen. The euro rose to $1.1067 from $1.1058.

The price of gold fell $21.30 to $1,335.30, silver fell 13 cents to $20.17 an ounce and copper rose 7 cents to $2.21 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 24.45 points or ▲ 0.13% on Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,372.12 ▲ 24.45 ▲ 0.13%
Nasdaq____ 5,005.73 ▼ -17.09 ▼ -0.34%
S&P_500___ 2,152.43 ▲ 0.29 ▲ 0.01%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.18 ▼ -0.05 ▼ -2.42%

NYSE Volume 3,479,240,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,523,787,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,670.40 ▼ -10.29 ▼ -0.15%
DAX_____ 9,930.71 ▼ -33.36 ▼ -0.33%
CAC_40__ 4,335.26 ▲ 3.88 ▲ 0.09%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/07/13/world/europe/ap-financial-markets.html?_r=0

Stocks Eke Out Late Gains to Hit More Records
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJULY 13, 2016, 5:12 P.M. E.D.T.

NEW YORK ”” Stocks inched up to another record on Wednesday after spending much of the day flitting between gains and losses.

After big moves up in recent days, investors appeared to take a bit of breather. They nudged stocks higher at the open, then sent them down, then back up in indecisive trading that set the tone for the rest of the day. In the last half hour, the Standard and Poor's 500 crept to a tiny gain, closing up less than a third of a point, an increase of just 0.01 percent.

Still, it was another high, and a winning streak that began with a strong U.S. jobs report on Friday stretched into a fourth day.

Investors are hoping the strengthening economy combined with low interest rates will help lift corporate profits and the appetite for stocks.

"Good economic numbers could translate into decent second quarter earnings, and rates are low," said Ernie Cecilia, chief investment officer of Bryn Mawr Trust. That makes for a "decent environment" for stocks.

Utility companies rose more than the rest of the market, though, a sign that investors are cautious as they seek out the relative safety of steady dividend payers. Investors also sought safety in U.S. government bonds, sending yields lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which had been rising since hitting an all-time low last week, dropped to 1.47 percent from 1.51 percent.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.29 points to 2,152.43. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 24.45 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,372.12. The Nasdaq composite lost 17.09 points, or 0.3 percent, at 5,005.73.

Rising oil prices have brought relief to the stock market in recent months, but the price reversed course Wednesday after the U.S. government said crude oil stockpiles shrank less than expected last week. Hess slumped $2.11, or 3.5 percent, to $58.02 and Devon Energy lost $1.01, or 2.5 percent, to $39.

Eight of the 10 biggest losers in the S&P 500 were energy-related companies.

For all the recent gains in stocks, the major indexes are barely above their old records a year ago.

"In essence, we have a stock market that has given us zero gains but plenty of heartaches," said James Abate, chief investment officer at Centre Asset Management.

Investors will turn their attention to second quarter earnings reports over the next few days. Earnings per share at companies in the S&P 500 are expected to fall 5.5 percent compared with the same period a year ago, according to research firm S&P Global Market Intelligence. That will be the fourth quarter in a row of drops.

On Thursday, JP Morgan Chase and Delta Air Lines report, followed by Citigroup and Wells Fargo on Friday.

Among stocks making big moves, Juno Therapeutics soared $2.63, or 9.5 percent, to $30.42 after regulators said its leukemia drug trials can continue. The stock had tumbled Friday after the Food and Drug Administration halted testing.

Arts and crafts chain Michaels fell $1.75, or 6 percent, to $27.13 after a disappointing forecast. It said it plans to sell stock to raise money.

In overseas trading, Britain's FTSE 100 slipped 0.2 percent and Germany's DAX fell 0.3 percent. France's CAC 50 rose 0.1 percent.

In Japan, the Nikkei 224 extended gains for another day with a rise of 0.8 percent on hopes that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will expand bond purchases and flood financial markets with money now that his Liberal Democratic Party has won parliamentary elections.

South Korea's Kospi gained 0.7 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.5 percent.

In the currency markets, the euro rose to $1.1107 from $1.1067 and the dollar fell to 104.31 yen from 104.79 yen. The pound fell to $1.3182 from $1.3271.

Precious and industrial metals prices rose. Gold climbed $8.30 to $1,343.60 an ounce, silver increased 24 cents to $20.41 an ounce and copper added 3 cents to $2.24 a pound.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.05, or 4.4 percent, to close at $44.75 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a standard for international oil prices, lost $2.21, or 4.6 percent, to close at $46.26 a barrel in London.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline lost 5 cents, or 3.6 percent, to close at $1.38 a barrel, heating oil fell 8 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $1.38 a barrel and natural gas was flat at $2.74 per 1,000 cubic feet.